13:10 Down Royal

Tuesday 23 January 2024

All12:4013:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:00

Franciscan Well Rated Novice Hurdle

Off time: 13:10 | Winning time: 4m 31.1s

Joshua Des Flos²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: D A Jacob| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 123

6/1

Fairly useful hurdler who landed 14-runner novice hurdle (4/7) at Ayr (16f, heavy) 21 days ago with plenty in hand. Trainer going well but this is tougher.

Form: 2/3-3331

The Other Mozzie²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| CD

13/2

Lightly-raced winner under NH rules. Career best when winning 9-runner novice hurdle (4/1) at this course (17f, soft) on hurdles bow 28 days ago, cosily. Possibilities.

Form: F2-5261

Western Fold²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 123

9/2

Fairly useful hurdler. Winner in hurdle at Gowran in November. 14/1, fell 5th in handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (20f, soft) 25 days ago. Not dismissed.

Form: 3-3U15F

D Art D Art¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Donagh Meyler| T: T Cooper

5/4

Lightly-raced winner under NH rules. Career best when winning 22-runner novice hurdle (10/3) at Cork (16f, heavy) 17 days ago, driven out. Likely to improve. Considered.

Form: 10-71

Soldante^t³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: E Walsh| T: Ciaran Murphy

9/2

Fairly useful hurdler. Tongue strap on for 1st time, excellent third of 11 in novice hurdle at Cheltenham (16.8f, good to soft, 40/1) 39 days ago. Holds very good form claims.

Form: 2525-13

Ah Remy Martin²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Kieren Buckley| T: T Gibney

14/1

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. Excellent third of 11 in novice hurdle at Fairyhouse (20.6f, heavy, 12/1) 22 days ago. Uphill task here however.

Form: 6-273

Non-Runners

My Gaffer²⁸

Weight: 11-6| Age: 6

T: J P Ryan J: D E Mullins

Condesa¹¹⁸

Weight: 11-2| Age: 8

T: S R B Crawford J: J J Slevin

Forecasts

D Art D Art (5/4), Western Fold (9/2), Soldante (9/2), Joshua Des Flos (6/1), The Other Mozzie (13/2), Condesa (12/1), Ah Remy Martin (14/1), My Gaffer (14/1)

SOLDANTE holds the edge on the form of his excellent Cheltenham third last time out so gets the nod in a competitive event. My Gaffer also has the form in the book to have a say while D Art D Art and The Other Mozzie look open to proress and can't be discounted either.